Argentina: A country that I call home

As I prepare to conclude my tour of duty as Malaysia’s Ambassador to Argentina at the end of this month, my heart is filled with deep gratitude as I reflect on the extraordinary four years I have spent in this remarkable country.

What began as a professional posting soon blossomed into a profoundly personal journey, one that has gifted me with unforgettable experiences, enduring friendships and a deep, abiding affection for Argentina, a place I now proudly call home.

I still remember arriving in Buenos Aires on the evening of August 31, 2021, after a long flight from Kuala Lumpur. The fatigue of travel was quickly replaced by a sense of honour and anticipation for my new role. By a beautiful twist of fate, the date was also Malaysia’s Independence Day, infusing my first moments here with a sense of symbolism and pride. To make it even more memorable, Argentina was my very first ambassadorship, a privilege and an honour I will cherish for the rest of my life.

At the time, the world was just emerging from the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, and strict safety measures were still in place. Upon arrival, I spent my first week in hotel quarantine. I used that time to immerse myself in reading reports, background papers and cultural studies determined to gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful country. It was during those quiet days of reflection, I made a personal promise to ensure that Malaysia’s presence would be felt in Argentina and to strengthen the ties between our two nations.

When the week of mandatory quarantine ended, I walked into the Embassy for the very first time and shared my vision with our team. In our first meeting, I told them I wanted us to work together as a united team, upholding dignity, integrity and mutual respect with a shared mission to elevate Malaysia’s profile in Argentina while deepening the ties between our two countries.

In today’s era of the Internet revolution, I knew that a strong and effective social media presence would be a powerful tool, especially for engaging the youth and younger generations, as well as promoting Malaysia to a broader audience. One of my earliest initiatives was to launch the Embassy’s first official Instagram account in September 2021, complementing our existing Facebook and Twitter platforms. I also refreshed our content strategy, making it more interactive and visually engaging, while adding Spanish captions to better connect with Argentina’s Spanish-speaking audience and reach a much wider community.

Over time, I observed our follower base steadily growing and local media outlets began approaching the Embassy to request interviews with me.

Building bridges and strengthening ties

As career diplomats often do upon arriving at a new posting, I made it a priority to build strong networks with local stakeholders, especially key ministers, governors, government officials, captains of industry, journalists and even our own diaspora as well as the diplomatic community – connections which proved invaluable in advancing Malaysia’s strategic interests in Argentina. At the same time, I consider myself fortunate to have been surrounded by dedicated and supportive individuals, including my colleagues at Headquarters, who consistently extended their strong support throughout my tenure as well as officials from Argentina’s Foreign Ministry (Cancilleria).

With their unwavering backing, coupled with the spirit of cooperation, we were able to pave the way for the Second Bilateral Consultations, which took place on December 2, 2021 after a two-year hiatus. This positive development marked a strong start to my posting in Argentina, taking place just four months after my arrival.

This concrete foundation allowed me to build strong momentum in pursuing our bilateral relations with Argentina more constructively. The working visit of former foreign minister Diana Mondino to Malaysia in March, 2024 marked another milestone in our relationship, as it was the first high-level visit from Argentina in five years, signalling a renewed commitment to diplomatic engagement. For the record, Malaysia was the first country she visited in Asia after assuming her post as Foreign Minister.

Subsequently, in September, 2024, the establishment of the Malaysia–Argentina Parliamentarian Friendship Group further deepened our political and institutional ties, reinforcing the long-term partnership between our two nations.

Expanding economic cooperation

In terms of economic engagement, progress has been both consistent and steady. In 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Argentina was valued at US$1.76 billion, with the balance traditionally in Argentina’s favour.

Our continuous promotional activities began to yield tangible results in May 2023, when a delegation of 30 business representatives from MERCOSUR countries, led by the MERCOSUR–ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (MACC), undertook a trade mission to several ASEAN countries, including Malaysia. The Trade Mission proved to be a breakthrough and an eye-opener for the delegation, showcasing the vast economic potential of Malaysia and the ASEAN region. A concrete outcome of this visit was the establishment of the MACC Malaysia Chapter on July 1, 2024, aimed at promoting and facilitating business engagement between the two regions, with a particular focus on strengthening links between Malaysia and Argentina.

Within my first year in Argentina, and thanks to strong teamwork and a shared vision with the former country head of Petronas, we successfully facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malaysia’s national oil company, Petronas, and Argentina’s state energy firm YPF on 1 September, 2022. The MoU aimed to jointly study and develop an integrated LNG project. While the project ultimately did not progress, the trust, goodwill, and connections forged through this effort have laid a valuable foundation, one that I believe will open the door to new and even greater opportunities for collaboration in the future.

Despite Petronas’ recent decision to also withdraw from its upstream oil and gas investment in Argentina following the acquisition by Vista Energy, I must emphasise that the company continues to maintain a strong interest in the country. Petronas still operates its downstream unit, Petronas Lubricants International, which holds approximately five percent of the market share.

Furthermore, as a result of the acquisition, Petronas now owns a seven- percent stake in Vista Energy, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to closely monitor and remain engaged in the development of Argentina’s energy sector.

This year, we were also pleased to welcome a new Malaysian investor to Argentina, Aerodyne, a world-class drone solutions provider. In June, the company began operations in Pergamino, supplying drones for security purposes. Given Argentina’s promising market for drone technology, Aerodyne plans to expand its operations to several more provinces, At the same time, several existing Malaysian investors, such as IJM Corporation, a construction

Company, and Sri Inderajaya Holdings, which operates the beautiful Las Leñas ski resort in Mendoza continue to maintain their presence in Argentina, further reflecting the enduring strength of our economic ties.

In total, Malaysia’s investment value in Argentina is estimated at approximately US$10 billion.

Halal diplomacy

As Argentina is renowned worldwide for producing premium-quality beef, one of my priorities during my tenure here was to promote cooperation in the halal sector, recognising the enormous potential of the global halal market, which is projected to reach US$2.8 trillion by 2028.

Malaysia’s halal certification is internationally recognised as a premium benchmark, and securing this certification would not only open doors for Argentine beef in Muslim-majority countries but also in non-Muslim markets. This is because halal today is increasingly seen not solely as a religious requirement, but as a symbol of a modern lifestyle, emphasising high-quality products, stringent hygiene standards and ethical practices.

Our proactive promotional activities in the halal sector have begun to bear fruit, as we have received a growing number of requests and strong interest from Argentine slaughterhouses. In response to this demand, the Embassy, in close collaboration with the Cancillería, co-organised a joint seminar on Halal Malaysia on September 3, 2024, which attracted 125 participants from across the country. Earlier this year, the Malaysian government further strengthened this cooperation by appointing another Foreign Halal Certification Body, The Halal Catering of Argentina (THCA), to provide basic training and advisory support for local producers in preparing to obtain Malaysia’s halal certification.

Culture without borders

The strong local networks and connections I built also enabled me to actively promote Malaysia’s culture, arts and tourism to the Argentine public. In close collaboration with local authorities, we successfully organised our annual Malaysia Gastronomy at the Belgrano Market, where we showcased signature dishes such as rendang, curry puffs (Malaysia’s version of empanadas), roti canai, kuey teow (Malaysian noodles) and Malaysia’s national drink, the tarik – our own version of mate.

For the first time, the Embassy established its own dance group, composed entirely of Argentine members, who performed traditional Malaysian dances during the event, adding colour, authenticity and a unique cultural exchange element to the celebration. Furthermore, due to enthusiastic public interest, we launched our cooking class, “Jom Masak” (“Let’s Cook”), earlier this year, giving Argentines the opportunity to learn how to prepare Malaysian cuisine and further strengthening the cultural ties between our nations.

From the heart

Argentina is a land of breath-taking diversity, geographically, culturally and gastronomically. From the rugged beauty of Patagonia to the vibrant pulse of Buenos Aires, from the soulful rhythm of tango to the warmth of its people, Argentina embraces you with open arms.

I will dearly miss many things such as enjoying warm churros for breakfast at the historic Café Tortoni; catching up with my fellow-ambassadors over café con leche at Café Tabac or Café La Biela; the camaraderie of sharing mate; and, of course, the irresistible aroma and flavour of a perfectly prepared asado. Many of my Argentine friends were pleasantly surprised to discover how much I enjoy drinking mate, so much so that I even drink cold tereré during the summer. To reflect just how deeply Argentine culture has touched my heart, I even declared every Wednesday as “Mate Day” at our Embassy. These are also more than just culinary delights, they are symbols of the generosity, hospitality and passion defining the Argentine spirit.

For my family, we will deeply miss our days spent at the estancias, riding horses beneath Argentina’s vast, open skies. Over the past four years, we explored many of these beautiful ranches, often spending entire days on horseback, surrounded by the tranquillity of nature. These moments became especially precious during the summer breaks, when our two daughters would return from their universities in Canada and England, filling our home with laughter and turning each ride into a cherished family memory. As for my wife and son, their journey from knowing no Spanish at all to speaking it with confidence has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of our time here, a skill, and a connection to Argentina, they will forever cherish.

As I bid farewell, I leave with immense gratitude, for the kindness I have received, for the lessons I have learned, and for the many memories I will treasure. Though my official duties here come to an end, Argentina will always hold a special place in my heart and will be remembered as a country that I proudly call home.

Muchas gracias, Argentina, Adios hasta que nos volvamos a encontrar!

* Outgoing Malaysian Ambassador to Argentina